When you have been rejected from a job interview

Being rejected for a job after an interview can be disheartening, but there are several constructive steps you can take to turn the experience into a learning opportunity and better prepare for future opportunities: I do think its wise to slow down and be intentional about what you want next.

I would not recommend blindly applying to jobs. We have all done that and not getting responses can affect your self confidence. Having coached over 100+ Professionals through career transitions over the last 10 years I’ve learned that so many of us haven’t put in the thought necessary in intentionally legacy crafting especially if you come from a low income household growing up you just think about money but there are so many factors to consider. I’m making this guide to support people through a tough time in their career which is when people are interviewing for another job and have recently been rejected even though they have put their heart and soul into the process.

1. Reflect on the Interview: Take some time to think about the interview process. Identify areas where you felt confident and areas where you think you could improve. Being able to objectively see what you did right and what you did wrong so many of us just focus on the negatives but there are also aspects of the interview that you have done well especially if you made it to the last round.

It’s quite competitive out there right now and because companies are more willing to hire remotely you are competing with a lot of people especially if you are in high income areas some companies have resorted to hiring talent in cheaper regions salary wise. That doesn’t mean you should give up but there are so many factors at play here that didn’t once exist even 7 years ago.

2. Request Feedback: If possible, politely ask the interviewer or hiring manager for feedback. Understanding their perspective can provide valuable insights into your strengths and areas for improvement.

Normally, we all go to victim mode. Oh it must be because of xyz. What’s harder is taking responsibility in where we messed up. In certain instances you will be competing with a lot of high achievers especially if it’s a highly sought role similar to what I experienced when I interviewed at LinkedIn for an Account Executive role.

3. Thank the Interviewers: Send a thank-you note or email to express your appreciation for the opportunity to interview. This leaves a positive impression and maintains a good relationship with the company for future opportunities. You never know what will happen. The first time I interviewed at TriNet, I didn’t get it, but I stayed in touch with the hiring manager and then he ended up hiring me when new leadership changed and the timing was right and after I added more skills to my repertoire. Sometimes timing is everything.

4. Analyze and Learn: Use the feedback and your own reflections to identify specific skills or knowledge areas that you need to develop. This could include technical skills, communication abilities, or industry-specific knowledge. Being able to implement some of the feedback they give you and also take it with a grain of salt. Every interviewer has unconscious bias and people tend to hire folks that look like them, act like them and remind them of themselves. It’s unfortunate but there is still unconscious bias and will always be. That being said, there is power in transformation and wanting to get better and actually implementing the suggestions that is given to you.

If you interview at a company and they don’t give you any feedback, thats a warning sign as well. If they treat you poorly during the interview process, then most likely you dodged a bullet. I recently went through a couple of interview processes and made it pretty far and after all of that time they just gave me the generic email. It’s crazy to think you spend all of this time with them and they can’t even give you the respect of a 5 minute phone call letting you know or offer any feedback.

It’s one of the things that drives me crazy. If you are a hiring manager. Do Better Please. It speaks volumes to the quality of your organization if you can’t spend the time to communicate effectively. It literally takes 5 minutes and especially if the candidate has invested over 10 hours interviewing and prepping for your demands.

5. Continue Networking: Stay in touch with contacts you made during the interview process. Networking can open doors to future opportunities within the same company or through referrals to other positions.

You never know what will happen. That’s one of the things more people need to think about. When you interview a lot you will end up meeting a lot of quality people along the way and it might not work out now but if you leave a good impression they will want to hire you in the future when other opportunities comes up.

6. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of being able to better tell your story. How do I effectively communicate my value prop especially if my background is different than what the “typical” candidate is like.

7. Seek Additional Training or Education: If you identified gaps in your skills, consider taking courses, earning certifications, or seeking out experiences that can help fill those gaps.

Being able to show that you are coachable and that you willing to implement and learn new skills they might get you additional chances in the future once you showed them that you went out and actively are taking training opportunities to get better at your craft.

8. Practice Interview Skills: Conduct mock interviews with friends, mentors, or career coaches. This can help you become more comfortable and confident in future interviews.

Career coaches are game changer. We can do mock role plays and be able to help you strategize how to answer questions like what are your blind spots and why should I hire you over the hundreds of applicants?

9. Stay Positive and Persistent: Job searching can be a long and challenging process. Stay positive, keep applying, and remain persistent. Each rejection brings you one step closer to the right opportunity.

It’s a journey- make sure you take care of your health. It’s all about how you reframe a situation.

Am I going to be paralyzed or will this motivate me to try harder?

I’ve seen people do both. It’s the temperature regulator in most modern homes now where you will unconscious self sabotage because you don’t think you deserve that higher role that you just applied to.

10. Expand Your Job Search: Look for opportunities in different companies, industries, or locations. Broadening your search can increase your chances of finding a suitable position.

Think creatively. Most people are afraid to ask for help. People want to help. Once I let go of my ego and reached out to a ton of people. I was shocked to see how many people want to help. Sometimes it’s not the first outreach, you have to be persistent because people are busy and not everyone is going to prioritize helping you but if you are professionally persistent, you will get a lot more responses.

By taking these steps, you can turn a rejection into a growth opportunity and increase your chances of success in future job interviews.